IP Library Granted Patent US 7,713,476
Granted Patent B2
US 7,713,476 · App. 09/793,199 · Granted May 11, 2010

Apparatus for preferably automatic handling and/or processing of objects

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,713,476
App. No.
09/793,199
Granted
May 11, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for preferably automatic handling and/or processing of objects ( 1 ), in particular in the field of medical technology, having at least one processing station ( 3 ) and one object carrier ( 2 ) for bringing the object ( 1 ) to the processing station ( 3 ), optionally through the processing station ( 3 ), and away from the processing station ( 3 ), is characterized in that the object carrier ( 2 ) has a code; that data concerning the object ( 1 ) and/or the handling or processing of the object ( 1 ) can be assigned to the code; and that the data can be read or retrieved by way of the code.

Claims (7)

1. An apparatus for staining histological and/or cytological specimens each mounted on a specimen slide, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of processing stations arranged in sequence, each of the plurality of processing stations having an excitation coil associated therewith for generating an excitation field;

a rack for carrying at least one specimen slide;

a transponder mounted on the rack for travel with the rack, wherein said transponder is temporarily mounted on the rack by a clip, the transponder having a code associated therewith;

a transport system for automatically transporting the rack and transponder to and from individual processing stations in the plurality of processing stations; and

a control unit connected to each of the excitation coils and to the transport system, the control unit executing a processing program to provide commands to the transport system to move the rack and the at least one specimen slide to and from specified processing stations;

the transponder being activated by the excitation field at a processing station to transmit the code to the control unit, wherein the code is evaluated by the control unit to assign the processing program.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 9, 2007
From: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBH
To: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBH
Reel/Frame 019930/0254 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2001
From: KAPPLEIN, ANDREAS; GROPP, ROBERT; SCHECK, PETER
To: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBH
Reel/Frame 011572/0526 →